Sharpening device for cutting implements such as razor blades

ABSTRACT

A device for sharpening cutting implements such as razor blades used in safety razors. The present device employs a vibrating unit constructed, as by use of a follower, to reciprocate a blade to be sharpened back-and-forth between a series of honing elements. The honing elements themselves are spring-biased, removable, and rotationally displaceable, this so that different honing surfaces or surface portions can be applied directly to the blade edges.

United States Patent [191 Paule Dec. 17, 1974 SHARPENING DEVICE FORCUTTING IMPLEMENTS SUCH AS RAZOR BLADES [76] Inventor: Michael L. Paule,8823 South 1275 East, Sandy, Utah 84070 [22] Filed: Oct. 12, 1972 [21]Appl. No.: 297,006

[52] US. Cl. 51/158, 76/D1G. 9 [51] Int. Cl B24b 3/48 [58] Field ofSearch 51/157, 158, 159, 59 R, 51/84 BS, 211 H; 30/38, 138; 76/DIG. 8,DIG. 9, 89.2, 81

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,803,364 5/l93l Stephens5l/l58 2,787,92l 4/1957 Blankenship 5l/l58 X 2,922,260 l/l960 Swanson5l/l58 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 117,266 7/1943 Australia 51/158Primary ExaminerAl Lawrence Smith Assistant ExaminerNicholas P. Godici 57 ABSTRACT A device for sharpening cutting implements such as razorblades used in safety razors. The present device employs a vibratingunit constructed, as by use of a follower, to reciprocate a blade to besharpened backand-forth between a series of honing elements. The honingelements themselves are spring-biased, removable, and rotationallydisplaceable, this so that different honing surfaces or surface portionscan be applied directly to the blade edges.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SHARPENING DEVICE FOR CUTTING IMPLEMENTSSUCH AS RAZOR BLADES The present invention relates to blade sharpeningdevices and, more particularly, to a new and improved device wherein afollower, by way of example, is reciprocated back-and-forth and carriesin corresponding manner a blade to be sharpened between sets of honingelements such as Arkansas stones.

In the past, razor blades of the double-edge type and usable in standardsafety razors have been found to dull very rapidly upon use. It iscustomary that only from three to five comfortable shaves can be had perblade. The consumer naturally desires to have these blades lastconsiderably longer and, accordingly, various approaches have been takenin the past to provide a suitable device for re-sharpening these bladesfor further use.

One such type of prior device has been the provision of apair of ballssuch as marbles set in a case and providing a tapered edge proximateball contact for blade sharpening. There likewise are extremely complexmechanical devices for sharpening blades, most of which have provedunduly expensive and unsatisfactory to the inventors knowledge.

The present invention provides a device convenient for use wherein aseries of honing elements such as cylindrical stones are provided forhoning the opposite edges of a double-edge safety razor blade, forexample. These honing elements are set in spring retainers that areeasily dropped in place in the device. Further, the honing stones are somounted that they can be easily removed or simply rotationally displacedso that new honing surfaces are presented the edges of successive bladesto be sharpened. The powering unit of the invention preferably takes theform of a vibrator such as that kind of a unit found in electric hairclippers. The vibrating portion of the unit is connected to a followerthat vibrates back-and-forth and which is introduced into the centralslit of the razor blade to be sharpened. Thus, the follower carries theblade back-and-forth between the honing surfaces of the stones used. Thevibrating device itself may be encased in suitable structure providedwith a convenient cover, and is electrically operated by battery orotherwise.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide anew and useful device for sharpening devices such as razor blades.

A further object is to provide a device for sharpening the used bladesof safety razors, and this automatically.

A further object is to provide a safety razor sharpening deviceincorporating sets of honing elements that can be re-positioned so thatsuccessive honing surfaces can be supplied the blades to be sharpened.

A further object is to provide in a razor blade sharpening device aseries of honing elements that are both spring-biased and rotatablewithin their mountings.

The features of the present invention may best be understood byreference to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment thereof.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a honing element mounted in a spring clipand releasably seated within the device.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are end and side elevations, respectively, of the topmember or cover of the device, illustrating the protuberances used insnapping the top member in position.

In the drawings, vibrator unit 10 is conventional, is battery orelectric cord operated, and may take the form of that currentlymanufactured by the Andis Clipper Company of Racine, Wisconsin. Thereare many types of electric motors or vibrators which are operative toreciprocate operating member 10' back-andforth in a direction shown bythe arrows. The particular form of the vibrator unit 10 itselfconstitutes no part of the present invention. In any event, theparticular type of vibrator unit chosen will determine somewhat thephysical configurement of the casing which is used therewith. In thedrawings the present casing 11 is provided with bosses l2 and 13 havingsplined nut inserts l4 and 15. These latter are threaded and dimensionedto receive respective bolts 16 and 17 which pass through correspondingapertures of the vibrator unit. Bolt 16 may itself be drilled and tappedat 18 to receive attachment bolt 19 for securing the side cover 20 tomember 11. Correspondingly, a bolt 21 is used with the remainingaperture A to pass therethrough and to be threaded into threadedaperture 22 of the vibrator unit.

Side member 11 includes a cradle 23 having recessed seats 24 and 25.These latter receive, as drop-in units, sharpening stones 26 and 27 asmounted within respective spring retainers 28 and 29. The springretainers themselves include clip portions 30 and 31 which are joinedtogether by a leaf-spring portion 32. The retainers themselves aresecured at spring portions 32 by medial protuberances 33 and 34 in themanner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Accordingly, the spring retainer may be positioned upon a stone and thenthe latter urged downwardly and slipped between the protuberances 33 and34 in the manner indicated. Of course, if desired, the spring retainercan be preliminarily inserted beneath protuberances 33 and 34 and thenthe stone installed.

Enlarge, base-slotted recessed seat or table 35, having follower supportsurface 55 provided with slot 56, accommodates the insertedpositionment'of a blade mount follower member 36 and also the blade 37to be sharpened. Follower 36 is provided with first and second oppositesides S1 and S2, and includes a slide base 38 and, upstanding therefrom,a blade engagement rib 39.

Disposed beneath the blade engagement rib is a slot 40' for receivingthe upstanding fingers 41 and 42 of the vibrator unit. Thus, a lateralreciprocation of the fingers 41 and 42 of the vibrator portion 11 willrapidly reciprocate the follower 36 back-and-forth and the bladedisposed thereon. The elongate dimension of follower 36 will of coursecorrespond roughly to the elongate dimension of the slot found inconventional double-edge razor blades.

Top member 40 is provided with a pair of declining ends 41 and 42 andalso a medial slot 43 receiving the upper portion of rib 39. Disposed onopposite sides of the top member 40 are protuberances 44 and 45 whichengage corresponding indentations 46, one being shown in the lower partof FIG. 1. These indentations and protrusions are for the purpose ofsnap-fitting the top member to the remainder of the casing. Indentations46' are designed for the purpose of receiving the protuberance 47disposed on the opposite side of the top member 40.

Additionally, there are retaining protuberances 48 and 48 for receivingupper spring retainers 50 and 51. These latter may be identical andinclude respective and clip portions 52 and 53 and adjoining leaf-springportion 54. The respective leaf-spring portions 54, are slightly arcuateas shown and are retained in place by the protrusions 48 and 48,respectively. Accordingly, the spring retainers may be preliminarilyinserted, in angular fashion, past the protrusions 48, successively, sothat these springs are retained at their approximate centers.Subsequently, the stones may be inserted as illustrated at the upperportion of FIG. 1.

In operation, and once the unit of FIG. 1, shown in exploded view, isassembled, the powering of the vibrating unit 10, either by externalmeans or by selfcontained battery will vibrate the unit back-andforth.The same, being engaged with slot 40 of follower 36, willcorrespondingly rapidly reciprocate the same back-and-forth in a similarmanner. Since the latter will contain a blade to be sharpened, the bladeof course is translated in corresponding fashion back-andforth. Thecasing and stones in their mountings are dimensioned 'such that thestones will engage as honing elements the edge portions of the enclosedblade 37 as supplied by the spring retainers of the successive stones.The stones themselves may be of any material but asuitable-oil-impregnated stone is found on the market known as anArkansas stone which has ideal honing properties.

It is to be noted that the top member is easily installed in place byits protrusions 44 and 45, which are staggered relative to protrusions47 on the opposite side of the case. The indentations of the cover arelikewise staggered, see 46 and 46 in the lower part of FIG. 1, toaccommodate the snap fitting of the top member to the rest of thecasing. When the stones are to be either removed and substitutions made,or where the stones are simply to be rotated, the top member can beeasily intermittently removed and the stones acted upon. It is notedthat the stones are so constructed that they may be easily rotated intheir mountings, to present new honing surfaces, or removed from theclip portions of the spring retainers proper.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art the variouschanges and modifications which may be made without departing from theessential features of the present invention and, therefore, the aim inthe appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications asfall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination, means having first and second opposite sides forremovably mounting an external cutting implement to be sharpened at atleast one cutting edge on said first side; means for rectilinearlyreciprocating said mounting means, engaged therewith at said secondside; a set of cylindrical honing means disposed proximate said mountingmeans for honing said cutting edge; and plural clip means releasablyreceiving and resiliently biasing said honing means toward said cuttingedge, and wherein said plural clip means comprise spring clips, saidspring clips comprising mutually spaced clip portions and outwardlyconvex elongate spring portions integral with and connecting said clipportions.

2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said clip portions arearcuately formed and open ended, whereby to permit the lateralwithdrawal and selective rotation of said honing elements relative tosaid clip portions, said combination including casing means providedwith recessed reaction surfaces engaging said spring portions of saidclip means.

3. In combination, means having first and second opposite sides forremovably mounting an external cutting implement to be sharpened at atleast one cutting edge on said first side; means for rectilinearlyreciprocating said mounting means, engaged therewith at said secondside; a set of cylindrical honing means disposed proximate said mountingmeans for honing said cutting edge; and plural clip means releasablyreceiving and resiliently biasing said honing means toward said cuttingedge, and wherein said combination includes a casing comprising amounting member mounted to said reciprocating means and a coverreleasably secured to said mountingmember over said reciprocating means,said mounting member including a slotted base, provided with areciprocating means access slot, and constituting a slide table for saidremovably mounting means and including recessed seats for removablyreceiving selected ones of said honing means as engaged by said clipmeans.

4. Structure according to claim 3 wherein said combination also includesa top member constructed for removable securement to said casing andincluding recessed seats for removably receiving selected ones of saidhoning elements as engaged by said clip means.

5. Structure according to claim 4 wherein said casing and said topmember include protuberance means disposed in said recessed seats forreleasably retaining said spring clips.

1. In combination, means having first and second opposite sides forremovably mounting an external cutting implement to be sharpened at atleast one cutting edge on said first side; means for rectilinearlyreciprocating said mounting means, engaged therewith at said secondside; a set of cylindrical honing means disposed proximate said mountingmeans for honing said cutting edge; and plural clip means releasablyreceiving and resiliently biasing said honing means toward said cuttingedge, and wherein said plural clip means comprise spring clips, saidspring clips comprising mutually spaced clip portions and outwardlyconvex elongate spring portions integral with and connecting said clipportions.
 2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said clip portionsare arcuately formed and open ended, whereby to permit the lateralwithdrawal and selective rotation of said honing elements relative tosaid clip portions, said combination including casing means providedwith recessed reaction surfaces engaging said spring portions of saidclip means.
 3. In combination, means having first and second oppositesides for removably mounting an external cutting implement to besharpened at at least one cutting edge on said first side; means forrectilinearly reciprocating said mounting means, engaged therewith atsaid second side; a set of cylindrical honing means disposed proximatesaid mounting means for honing said cutting edge; and plural clip meansreleasably receiving and resiliently biasing said honing means towardsaid cutting edge, and wherein said combination includes a casingcomprising a mounting member mounted to said reciprocaTing means and acover releasably secured to said mounting member over said reciprocatingmeans, said mounting member including a slotted base, provided with areciprocating means access slot, and constituting a slide table for saidremovably mounting means and including recessed seats for removablyreceiving selected ones of said honing means as engaged by said clipmeans.
 4. Structure according to claim 3 wherein said combination alsoincludes a top member constructed for removable securement to saidcasing and including recessed seats for removably receiving selectedones of said honing elements as engaged by said clip means.
 5. Structureaccording to claim 4 wherein said casing and said top member includeprotuberance means disposed in said recessed seats for releasablyretaining said spring clips.